الفهرس 
Introduction and Aim of the WorkOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 257 |  |  |
| | | from | 257 | | |
Abstract
Introduction: SLE is a chronic and potentially debilitating autoimmune disease that primarily affects women during their reproductive years (15-44 years old). OP contributes to morbidity in SLE, and OP with fractures is one of the items in the accumulated SLE organ damage index. Increased risk of fractures in SLE patients may be related to the underlying disease, its treatment, or the risk factors in the general population. Bone loss in lupus is likely a multifactorial process, and both traditional and SLErelated risk factors for OP have been implicated. In our study we aimed at defining the prevalence of OP and osteoporotic fractures in a group of Egyptian premenopausal women with SLE, and also to determine the factors involved in induction of OP in our studied group. Our study was conducted on a group of 30 Egyptian premenopausal females with SLE compared with 2 control groups; 10 healthy controls and 10 BA patients matched for age with SLE patients. Patients with factors related to secondary OP were excluded. All patients were subjected to: thorough history taking, therapeutic history especially CS therapy and DMARDs, general and local examination, rheumatological assessment including disease activity by SLEDAI, Accumulated organ damage by SLICC/ACR damage index and functional assessment by HAQ, Laboratory investigations (routine and plasma estradiol level), BMD measurement using DEXA, plain xray of the hip and spine. Results of this study show; higher prevalence of OP among Egyptian premenopausal women with SLE than that detected in Asian or white women with SLE. The significant high estrogen level didn?t protect our SLE patients them against the development of OP. High current and cumulative CS dose in the treatment of SLE is the main contributing factor in the development of OP. Also patients with higher accumulated organ damage are more liable for the development of OP. DMARDs and high BMI appear to be protective against the development of OP in SLE patients. Adequate nutrition especially calcium and vitamin D, adequate physical activity and exercise, and adequate exposure to sun are important to guard against OP. Recommendations for further studies: Longitudinal study on large number of SLE patients, studying the antiosteoporotic effect of various types of DMARDs in SLE patients either premenopausal or postmenopausal is required. Studying the effect of various types and doses of CSs on BMD in SLE patients need to be known, Studying the effect of SLE disease damage on BMD independent of CS use is also recommended, and Hormonal disturbance in SLE patients and its relation to OP need further studies.